Process for smelting ore.



J. P. WELGH.

- PROCESS or SMELTING ORE.

APPLIOATION I'ILED MAR. 12, 1909.

Patented Oct. 12, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

C Jim as; 9.5 kaf J. P WELGH. PROCESS OF SMELTING ORE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 12, 1909.

Patented 0ct.12,190 9.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

m m wk J. P. W ELGH.. PROGESS 0F SMELTING ORB.

' APPLICATION FILED MAR. 12, 1909.

Patented Oct. 12, 1909.

I I u i h u N l 1 p II N l UNITED STATES rare-NT OFFICE.

JOSEPH P. WELCH, or SALT LAKE crrr, emu, nssrenon or one-HALF. Tour .1.

SNIDER, 0F SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH.

. rnocnssron SMEL'IING'ORE.

Specification of Letters Patent. 4

Patented oct. 12, 1909..

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Josnrn P. VVELoH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Salt Lake City, in the county of Salt Lake and State of Utah, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes for Smelting Ore, of which the following is a specification.

' The object of my invention is to provide a process for smelting ores, with suchheat and manipulation, that the metals Willbe smelted with less fuel than" is now necessary, in less time and to produce a higherercentage matte and with smaller loss of Va ues by volatilization. .This I do by my process.

One form of a mechanical'device in which the processv may be advantageously used is herewith shown; The object of so'illustrating with the mechanical-device, is that the process may be more readilynnderstood, it not being my intention to confine myself alone to the form of mechanical device shown. Any other form that would carry out the stepsnof the recess may be used withoutdetracting at a 1 from the invention.

Figure 1 is a vertical section of two revolving furnaces showing the fuel and ore ingress. Figr2 is a plan in section on line yr, 3 of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a utside elevation of said furnaces showing ime means that may be ado ted for revolving them. Fig. 4 is a vertica section in detail of one form of the feeding device.

The use of two connected furnaces enables nae to smelt ores therein continuously, and to calcine the ores in one furnace with the secondary heat from the other furnace.

The furnaces 1 and 2,3f1'6 constructed preferably of steel and lined with fire brick 3. They are'mounted on power driven trunnioned rollers 4, and are revolved thereby with the friction of-theirsu porting tires 5 and 6. Furnace 1 is provi ed with annular openings 7 and 8 1n the ends thereof, the annular opening 8 being larger than the annular opening 7. This arrangement allows a discharge through said annular opening 8 and ore ingress in opening 7. Adjaother endof. furnace 2 isa discharge pipe 1 r.

' Tothe outer end of said water acketed feed pipe is attached the ore chute 12. At convenient points iii-the circumferential wall of furnace 1 are provided manholes or cleanout openings 19. Furnace 2, has provided in the end thereof adjacent to the furnace 1, an annular opening 13, and connecting the annular opening 8 and theannular opening 13 is the ore chute and flue 14. Provided in the annular'opening 13 is the fuel and air pipe 15 which has provided on the end thereof 'adeflector nozzle 16. The form of the. deflector nozzle as illustrated and described inmy application filed February '23, 1909, No. 479628, allowed May 10th, 1909, or any form of nozzle may be used that will (1 rect the fuel and air passing therethrough in fan shaped form. Axially located in t -e Constructed below and. adjacent to said discharge pipe: 17 is the'settler 18. Provided in the circumferential wall of furnace-.2 and near the end having the discharge pipe 17 are the tap holes 20, for drawing ofl-. metal and cleaning out this furnace.

After the initial start, which would consist in first building sufiicient fire in furnace 1, to calcine one charge of' ore, properly fluxed ore is then introduced, of sufficient amount to fill said furnace to the point that it would discharge the'calcined orev therein through the annular openin 8, and as di rected by the ore chute 14; mto furnace 2, where fuel (some form of hydrocarbon) and air would be introduced in sufiicient quantities to smelt said charge of ore i-n furnace 2, and from then the operation would be continuous, the amount of ore supplied to the calcining furnace 1 being the amount smelted in the smelting furnace 2. The inclination of the furnace 2' permitsthe ore when 'smelted to flow out through the discharge opening lf, into the settler 18 as slag and. molten mineral. The introduction of; the fuel and air through the pipe 15 and as directed by the deflector 16 subjects the ore under treatment in furnace 2 to the heat necessary to smelt the ore therein. Theuse of the two furnaces and the direction of the heat units as indicated by the arrows in Fig. I 1, enables me to obtain from the fuel the greatest amount of heat possible; and the fact that the moltenmass and material in furnace 2', while being reyolved, subjects the introducedore to a bath of molten mm- "-w matte carrying a other form of mechanical device that'would subject the ore as it enters the smelting furnace to an immediate immersion in molten mineral would carry out this step in my process equally as well. The introduction of the fuel and air through the pipeand its' deflecting nozzle 16 enables me to form a gas and fuel having the desired mixture of oxygen and carbon best adapted to the smelting of the ores under treatment. The

15 revolu tion of the furnace 2, and the manner and form of introducing the fuel, subjects the constantly flowing and falling mass-of molten mineral and sla contained in said furnace, to the action of a constant imping- 20 ing stream of fuel and air within said furnace, thus supplying the greatest heat to said molten mineral at the exact point where 'it is most desired, and introducing and supplying the oxygen within and through the molten mineral, in this manner partially bessemerizing the metal, this part of my process has previously been accomplished only in converters by the use of twyers and air blasts, thus enabling me to produce a greater .percenta e of values than has previously been possi le in smelting The revolving of the furnace 2' causes the silica in the ore, when fused by the heat, to rise to the surface, and by said revolutions, the lining of fire brick 3 will be brought in contact with the' ,.silica, a portion of which will adhere to said fire brick as said portion of said silica is drawn downward, and will form a lining or coating to 40 said furnace, varying in thickness with the different percentages of the silica contained in "the ore. And;,,as this silicious lining is subjected 'to the heat of the molten mass of mineral, the silica combines with the iron oxids (formed by the revious oxidation of the iron sulfids) and orms iron silicates or slag, tlius enabling me to produce the higher grade matte desired. And I have found that--blister- ,iiopper will be formed by this I step in my process, that by its greater specific ga'vity, will settle in the lower end of said rnace' 2, and by stopping the furnace itis drawn off through the tap holes 20. The

direction of the heat units as indicated by the arrows in furnace 2 into and through furnace 1 supplies the heat necessary to continue the calcining of the ore as it passes through furnace 1 Having thus described my process I desire .to secure by Letters Patent and claim- 1. A process for smelting ores, consisting in subjectin the ore within a revolvin furnace to a liath of flowing molten mineral and the heat of an impinging stream of burning fuel and oxygen.

2. A process for smelting-ore, consisting in subjecting a constantly falling and flowmg mass of previously calcined ore to the heat of an impinging stream of burning carbon and oxygen, while sa-id falling an fiowin mass of ore is allowed to contact with sed silica, as and for the purposes described. i

3. A process for smeltingore, consisting in subjecting within a revolving furnace a constantly flowing mass of ore to the action of fused silica andtto an impinging current of burning hydro-carbon and oxygen.

4. A' process for smelting ore, consisting in subjecting within a revolving furnace a constantly fiowinganass of ore to the action of fused silica and to an impinging current of burning hydro-carbon and oxygen, with an excess of oxy en.

' 5. A process or smelting ore, consisting in subjecting within a revolving furnace .a constantly -falling and flowing mass of molten material to the action of fused silica and to an impinging current of burning hydro-carbon and oxygen, with an excess of oxygen, as and for the purposes des cr1 bed.

6. A process for smelting consisting in subjecting ore within a revolving furnace to a bath of flowing molten mineral immediately upon the ore entering said furnace, and also totheaction of fused silica and an impinging stream of burning hydro-earbon and oxygen, the oxygen supply bein more than necessary for combustion, as an 

